Maoists kidnap 17 villagers from Sukma district in Chhattisgarh

Close on the heels of the June 29 fire fight between CRPF personnel and alleged Maoists in Bijapur of south Bastar, the insurgents have struck back abducting 17 villagers from Jagargunda, a village in the Sukma district in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.

Sukma, a Maoist stronghold has been in the news frequently of late.

In April 2012, Maoists had abducted Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon, who was released twelve days later.

The ultra left insurgents hit the headlines again on May 15 when they kidnapped two people, including a local BJP leader, in the same Sukma district